Steam trains BANNED after Harry Potter locomotive sparks massive wildfire

Network Rail has imposed a nationwide ban on steam trains amid heightened wildfire concerns during Britain's ongoing hot weather.

The decision follows a blaze near Winsford in Cheshire last Saturday, believed to have been sparked by a locomotive commonly known as the Harry Potter train.

That incident forced the closure of the West Coast Main Line in both directions, causing significant weekend disruption, with 72 services cancelled and another 158 delayed.

The privately-owned engine, identified as Black Five No.44871, had been travelling approximately 70 miles from Carnforth in Lancashire to Crewe when the fire broke out.

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Network Rail continues to investigate the precise cause of the trackside blaze.

Heritage railway enthusiasts have been left frustrated as planned excursions face last-minute changes or cancellations.

One disgruntled passenger who had booked the Jacobite Steam Train, famous worldwide as the real-life Hogwarts Express due to its route across the Glenfinnan Viaduct featured in the Harry Potter films, vented his frustration on TripAdvisor this week.

He wrote: "Poor show for the price. No steam train the day we went and regular blue and white intercity carriages. A lot of disappointed kids the day we were there. Nothing Hogwarts about it."

Another family learned just 48 hours beforehand that their £180-per-person Spirit of Summer Lunch journey from Paddington to the Chiltern Hills would be hauled by a vintage diesel rather than a steam engine.

The Northern Belle, once part of the Orient Express fleet and ranked fifth among the world's finest trains by Condé Nast Traveller readers last year, has also been affected by the restrictions.

Passengers who paid £595 each for Saturday's Settle and Carlisle Special will now travel behind a heritage diesel rather than a historic steam locomotive pulling the 1930s Pullman-style carriages.

A Northern Belle spokesman said: "Obviously this is a big disappointment for both us and many of our passengers."

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They added that the operator would refund £50 per passenger and provide a complimentary cocktail.

The North Yorkshire Moors Railway issued an apology on Wednesday alongside a revised timetable, citing limited locomotive availability.

The timing proves particularly unfortunate as schools across the country break up for summer holidays.

Network Rail employs a colour-coded fire risk assessment system for steam operations, ranging from green for normal conditions through to black, which prohibits steam entirely.

A West Coast Railways spokesman explained that last week's level was red, requiring diesel assistance while steam locomotives remained fired only for lubrication and braking purposes.

They said: "This process has worked successfully for several years, in similar weather conditions; indeed there were five other steam operations on the network, on Saturday, all of which ran without incident."

The company emphasised that all operators had adhered to established protocols.

The current black rating across most of the network is expected to remain in place for approximately another week until temperatures drop.

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